Just because something is temporary doesn’t always make it easier to endure.
I recently spoke with two good friends who were going through major struggles—one with her health and the other with her child. For one, a medical procedure guaranteed relief from persistent pain…but she had no date for said procedure while she lived with crippling daily symptoms. For the other, she was doing all the right things, yet her child’s behavioral struggles were a developmental hurdle.
In both cases, my friends had only one way through these seasons: to endure the race and reach the finish line.
Many times in life, we will face struggles that aren’t forever. Seasons and stages will knock us clean off our feet, even though we know they’ll end. I think of this as a small reflection of what all of humanity has endured: waiting for a savior. Waiting for his return. And learning to trust the Father while we’re in the waiting.
This week, if you are trying to survive this season with hope for the next, we encourage you to seek out all the ways in which God reveals Himself to you. Search for His little graces, the people He sends your way, the reminders of His prevailing love, presence, and peace. Prayerfully approach Him for hope and endurance. Reach out to those you love and trust for support during this time. And remember that even in a season of struggle, you are never alone.
When we go through something, we can’t always hasten it along or do more to expedite its end. We simply have to soldier through it toward the hope that lies on the other side, doing our best to walk in the footsteps of Christ all along the way. In this way, we will be good witnesses and grow our faith.
And in those seasons, the love of our Father remains—something steadfast we can lean on. His love will always see us through, so that we can run the race with endurance and finish well.
